New Green Bay Kicker Brayden Narveson Has Family Ties to Wisconsin

Brayden Narveson may not have been the happiest person in his family when the Green Bay Packers claimed him off waivers to fill their kicking role. For Narveson, it was an unexpected opportunity that, surprisingly, thrilled his wife more than him.

Shelby Narveson, Brayden’s wife, hails from Prescott, Wisconsin, a town filled with die-hard Packers fans. The couple recently tied the knot in Mexico, and this move meant a lot to her family. “She’s like, ‘I’m going to be the coolest person in my hometown,’“ Brayden recalled.

Before joining the Packers, Narveson showcased his skills during a preseason with the Tennessee Titans. He made six of his seven field-goal attempts, including an impressive long of 59 yards. Despite his strong performance, the Titans decided to stick with veteran kicker Nick Folk, opening the door for Narveson in Green Bay.

“I’m really grateful to the Titans for giving me that opportunity,” Narveson stated. They kept him informed throughout the preseason, hinting that he could be claimed by another team if it came to that.

The news of joining the Packers caused an immediate and joyful reaction from Shelby. “When I called and told her I got claimed by the Packers, she was like, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me,’“ he shared. “She hung up and called her parents immediately. She was probably more excited than I was.”

Narveson is set to make his NFL regular-season debut on Friday when the Packers begin their season against the Philadelphia Eagles in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Despite not having attempted a field goal in a real NFL game yet, he has made a favorable impression on his teammates and coaching staff.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur praised Narveson’s work ethic and mentality. “I just like his approach,” LaFleur expressed. “I can’t wait to see what happens in the game.”

Narveson’s journey to the NFL has been anything but ordinary. Over six years of college football, he transferred between four schools, spending time at Iowa State, San Diego, Western Kentucky, and ultimately finishing at N.C. State in the previous year.

“Some people might look at me and wonder what I’m doing bouncing around four schools,” Narveson reflected. “But I believe it prepared me very well. It mirrored an NFL journey, where you go in, compete, and constantly have to win over a new audience.”

This experience ingrained in him the importance of being ready every single day. “Every time I was at a new school, I had to compete against new guys. It put me in the right mindset that every day matters, and every time you step on the field, you must be focused and ready to earn your position,” he added.

Playing at N.C. State proved beneficial for Narveson, as he stepped into a role that required him to replace Christopher Dunn, who had been awarded the Lou Groza Award as the top college kicker the previous season. Narveson responded excellently by hitting 18 of 23 field-goal attempts and setting a school record with a 57-yarder against Duke.

Now, he faces a heightened level of expectations as he embarks on his NFL career with a team that harbors Super Bowl ambitions. The Packers have long enjoyed stability in their kicking game, with Mason Crosby holding down the position from 2007 to 2022 and becoming the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.

Last year, rookie kicker Anders Carlson struggled to fill Crosby’s shoes, leading the Packers to seek a more reliable option such as Narveson. The organization is hopeful that Narveson will provide a lasting solution.

Narveson acknowledges the weight of the situation as he embarks on this new chapter. “If someone says they’re not nervous or that there’s no pressure, I think they’re either lying or don’t care,” he observed. “In my opinion, pressure is a privilege. It means you’ve done all the right things at the right time to showcase how hard you’ve worked.”